Van Cliburn was only twenty-three when he won the first Internatioanl Thaikovsky Competition in Moscow on April 14, 1958.At the height of the Cold War, Cliburn's historic victory helped tear down cultural barriers years ahead of glasnost and perestroika, transcending politics by demonstrating the universality of classical music.

Upon hir return to the United States, the young pianist received a hero's welcome in New York City with a ticket-tape parade, the first and only time the city gave such an honour to a classical musician.On that historic day Van Cliburn became both cultural hero and unofficial diplomat.He went on to perfom with every important orchestra and conductor in the world's most renowed concert halls. Mr.Cliburn also returned to tour the Soviet Union may times between 1960 and 1972.

The Composers featured in this first release of solo recital material figured in Van Cliburn's repertoire. His Brahms and Rachmaninoff are performances in the Grand Tradition, personal, powerful and deeply poetic. Prokofiev calls for a spikier approach and Van Cliburn deliver's a bold, brilliant account of one of the composer's most demanding scores for solo piano. The audience response is further evidence of the tremendous impact made by Cliburn upon his Moscow public.